SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL AEROSPACE REPORTS

A Biweekly Publication of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
VOLUME 44, ISSUE 11 - MAY 30, 2006

04 AIRCRAFT COMMUNICATIONS AND NAVIGATION
Includes all modes of communication with and between aircraft; air navigation systems (satellite and ground based); and air traffic control.

For related information see also 06 Avionics and Aircraft Instrumentation; 17 Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command and Tracking; and 32 Communications and Radar.

20060013454 NASA Glenn Research Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

Modular, Cost-Effective, Extensible Avionics Architecture for Secure, Mobile Communications

Ivancic, William D.; April 2006; 15 pp.; In English; 2006 Aerospace Conference, 4-11 Mar. 2006, Big Sky, MT, USA; Original contains color illustrations Contract(s)/Grant(s): WBS 931.02.07.03 Report No.(s): NASA/TM-2006-214250; E-15495; No Copyright; Avail.: CASI: A03, Hardcopy

Current onboard communication architectures are based upon an all-in-one communications management unit. This unit and associated radio systems has regularly been designed as a one-off, proprietary system. As such, it lacks flexibility and cannot adapt easily to new technology, new communication protocols, and new communication links. This paper describes the current avionics communication architecture and provides a historical perspective of the evolution of this system. A new onboard architecture is proposed that allows full use of commercial-off-the-shelf technologies to be integrated in a modular approach thereby enabling a flexible, cost-effective and fully deployable design that can take advantage of ongoing advances in the computer, cryptography, and telecommunications industries. Author

Avionics; Communication Networks; Protocol (Computers); Commercial Off-the-Shelf Products; Communication Equipment

Source: NASA